She attended his funeral despite having banned him from contacting her.

Gillian, who played Kathy Beale in EastEnders, had a stormy 25-year relationship with Knights, 58, during which she once kicked him out for cheating.

When he was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer three months ago, he was facing a charge of breaching a non-molestation order by making phone calls to Gillian, 58, with whom he had two children.

LAST GOODBYE: Geoff Knight refused to speak to Gillian before he passed away [GERARD FARRELL]

“To my dearest Geoff/Jibby! I want to thank you for 25 years of so many happy memories”

Gillian Taylforth

But as his life ebbed away, the ex-lovers’ roles were reversed, with Gillian desperate to see him to say goodbye, but Knights not wanting to talk to her.

Yesterday, at Holy Trinity Church in Hertford Heath, Herts, Mr Knights’ sister Caz, 55, read a farewell message he penned for family and friends in which he expressed his deep love for his children Jess, 21, and Harrison, 14 – but there was no mention of Hollyoaks actress Gillian.

She wrote on her wreath: “To my dearest Geoff/Jibby! I want to thank you for 25 years of so many happy memories.